The few men from the Martial Hall were dumbfounded. "Senior Thyssen actually lost. How is that possible? Senior Thyssen is one of the few Melder-realm experts in our branch hall, yet he was actually defeated by a Seeker."
Hearing those words, the Melder-realm youth named Thyssen had a fierce look in his eyes. "Again!" he shouted and charged forcefully at Lu Yin, striking out with his Heavenly Beast Claw.
Lu Yin's eyes narrowed. This person's Heavenly Beast Claw was even stronger than Mo Nuo's after he had recovered his Melder-realm strength. The Martial Hall was indeed full of experts, worthy of being the elite training camp of the Great Yu Empire. However, with his current five-star Heavenly Star Palm, he was not afraid of such an expert. Just as he was about to make a move, an immense force swept over, passing through everyone.
This force was also at the Melder realm, just like Thyssen, but in an instant, it made Lu Yin's hair stand on end, and his expression changed drastically. He was no match. He was no match for this force. Who was it?
Thyssen's figure abruptly stopped, his face pale. He slowly turned around. In the distance, a figure was strolling over.
Lu Yin followed Thyssen's gaze. It was a young man, probably about the same age as Thyssen, or perhaps a little younger. But the moment he saw that person, Lu Yin was certain that this was the source of the force just now. A young Melder-realm expert, whose strength far surpassed Thyssen's. His five-star Heavenly Star Palm could deal with Thyssen, but against this person, he was absolutely no match.
Lu Yin's expression was grave. This person was the most terrifying Melder-realm expert he had ever met.
"Hall... Hall Master Tian Ming," Thyssen's face was filled with horror as he spoke fearfully.
Hall Master? Lu Yin was puzzled. He didn't know about the Martial Hall; the Great Yu Empire had sealed off information about it. He had asked Gules and the others before, but even they weren't very clear, only knowing that the Martial Hall gathered the strongest of the empire's younger generation. But they didn't know the specific divisions or if there were rankings.
"Thyssen, you're getting smarter, even learning how to launch sneak attacks. How about you find a chance to sneak attack me and see? If you defeat me, this position of Hall Master will be yours," the Melder-realm youth, Tian Ming, said as he walked in front of everyone. He first gave Lu Yin a friendly nod, then spoke to Thyssen in a cold voice.
Thyssen's expression changed dramatically, and he quickly opened his mouth, "Hall Master, I didn't do it on purpose, I just saw..." Before he could finish, he was interrupted by Tian Ming. "I saw everything clearly. Your target wasn't that girl, but King Zishan. Who gave you the guts to launch a sneak attack on King Zishan?"
Thyssen didn't answer, sweat dripping from his forehead.
Tian Ming casually waved his hand, and the gust of wind stirred into an invisible beast claw, striking Thyssen's chest and sending him flying. "Get out."
The other few men from the Martial Hall also hurriedly left, not daring to look back.
The moment Lu Yin saw Tian Ming make his move, his heart skipped a beat. That was the Heavenly Beast Claw. Unlike Thyssen and the others, this Tian Ming had cultivated the Heavenly Beast Claw to an extremely profound level. Every movement could transform into a claw, without the need for a probing palm. This person was an absolute master.
"The Martial Hall is self-governed by its internal students and is divided into Five Halls, spread across the first ring. He is one of the Hall Masters, one of the five great masters of the Martial Hall, Tian Ming," Bronson introduced in a low voice behind Lu Yin.
A glint flashed in Lu Yin's eyes. The five great masters of the Martial Hall. He remembered Gules mentioning that her brother was one of the top masters of the Martial Hall. Could he also be a Hall Master?
"Who are the other four?" Lu Yin asked.
Bronson said in a low voice, "Shuz, Gurbach, Lok Ang, Huo Zhong, plus Tian Ming here are the five Great Hall Masters of the Martial Hall, unparalleled among the empire's youth."
Lu Yin nodded. Just then, Tian Ming finished dealing with Thyssen and turned to face him, apologizing, "It was my lack of discipline. I hope King Zishan was not injured."
"Hall Master Tian Ming is too kind. We were just having a little spar," Lu Yin said. Although this Tian Ming was just a student of the Martial Hall, as a Hall Master, he held absolute power within the Martial Hall and could not be underestimated.
Tian Ming sighed. "I can still tell the difference between a sneak attack and a spar. The talent in the Martial Hall has withered in recent years, producing all these disgraceful things. I heard that in this Earth trial, the people from the Martial Hall also lost a lot of face. I've made a fool of myself in front of King Zishan."
Lu Yin smiled. "The final battle was won with the help of a master from the Martial Hall. Hall Master Tian Ming is too modest."
Tian Ming smiled, exchanged a few pleasantries with Bronson, then looked at Bai Xue. "Miss, on behalf of the students of the Martial Hall, I solemnly apologize to you. I saw what just happened through the surveillance. I'm sorry."
Bai Xue's personality was aloof. She nodded without saying anything more.
Lu Yin was curious. "Hall Master Tian Ming, the Martial Hall has the inheritance of the one hundred and eight forms of the Heavenly Beast Claw. I wonder if I can learn it?"
Tian Ming nodded. "Of course. From the moment King Zishan arrived at the Capital Star, you are a member of our Martial Hall. I can approve you to learn the first five forms."
Lu Yin frowned. "Only the first five forms?"
Tian Ming smiled. "King Zishan may not know, but the Heavenly Beast Claw is a top-tier battle technique of the Martial Hall and also a top-tier battle technique of the Great Yu Empire. Ordinary people cannot learn it. Joining the Martial Hall only gives one the qualification to learn. To actually learn it, one must have the approval of a Hall Master. The approval of one Hall Master allows one to learn the first five forms, three Hall Masters for the first ten forms, and all five Hall Masters for the first twenty forms."
"There's such a rule," Lu Yin was helpless.
"Generally, Seeker realm students of the Martial Hall can only learn the first five forms. The Heavenly Beast Claw is not that easy to master. For Seeker realm students, five forms are enough. Only upon reaching the Melder realm can one learn the first ten forms. Stronger Melder realm elites can learn the first twenty forms. Thyssen just now has learned up to the first twenty forms, but he has only comprehended thirteen. It will take him a long time to fully comprehend all twenty," Tian Ming explained patiently, having a good temperament.
Lu Yin remembered that Las had learned five forms, Mo Nuo probably ten, and Thyssen's thirteen was about right. He himself had currently learned seven forms from Mo Nuo. Out of a total of one hundred and eight forms, he hadn't even learned a fraction.
"Hall Master Tian Ming, may I ask how many you have learned?" Bai Xue suddenly spoke up.
Everyone looked at Tian Ming.
Lu Yin was also very curious. Just now, Tian Ming's casual use of the Heavenly Beast Claw far surpassed Thyssen's. To be a Hall Master and make someone like Thyssen not dare to resist, he was definitely not simple.
Tian Ming gave a faint smile. "Forty-three forms."
The expressions of Lu Yin and the others changed. A terrifying number, almost half. This was a Hall Master, no wonder he far surpassed Thyssen and the others.
"Actually, among the five Great Hall Masters, Lok Ang has comprehended the most, forty-nine forms. He is the strongest among us in the Heavenly Beast Claw," Tian Ming said.
"If I want to learn the entire Heavenly Beast Claw, what should I do?" Lu Yin asked.
Tian Ming shrugged. "Defeat one of us, become a Hall Master, and the resources of the Martial Hall are yours to enjoy." After speaking, Tian Ming waved his hand. "I have other matters to attend to, so I must be going. Everyone, I wish you good luck. Oh right, all of you who have undergone re-tempering will want to join the Martial Hall. If you have no other choice, you can join me here. I will take good care of you."
"We have already been reserved by the Thirteen Imperial Squads. Can we still join the Martial Hall?" Bai Xue asked.
Tian Ming smiled. "The Thirteen Imperial Squads and the Martial Hall do not conflict. The Martial Hall is a place for learning, and the Thirteen Imperial Squads are a place for fighting." After speaking, Tian Ming left.
At this moment, Zhang Dingtian's low roars also disappeared. Not long after, Bai Xue entered the Body Tempering Pool.
Soon, pained moans also came from Bai Xue. Her voice was much more pleasant to listen to than Zhang Dingtian's. Hearing it made Lu Yin feel irritated and agitated. "Bronson, who is administering the body tempering for them? A man or a woman?"
Bronson said calmly, "No one. They endure it themselves."
Lu Yin nodded. That was good. If it were a man in there administering the body tempering for Bai Xue, he would feel uncomfortable. Although Bai Xue wasn't his woman, he just didn't want her to be taken advantage of by others.
"Oh right, Shi Wuzhang, which squad has taken a liking to you all?" Lu Yin remembered the Ascetic Monk and asked.
Shi Wuzhang slowly raised his head and said hoarsely, "Zhang Dingtian, scouted by, the Fifth Squad. Bai Xue, scouted by the Sixth Squad. I will join, the Eleventh Squad."
Lu Yin pondered. Bronson had introduced them before. The captain of the Fifth Squad was named Huo Qingshan, the patriarch of the Great Yu Empire's Huo Clan and also Huo Xiaoling's father, the middle-aged man with fiery red hair in the court. The captain of the Sixth Squad was named Tao Xiang, that loli. The captain of the Eleventh Squad was the bald, blind man named Manh Tang.
It was normal for Huo Qingshan to take a liking to Zhang Dingtian; Zhang Dingtian possessed Limiteer-level battle power and could be specially recruited into the Thirteen Imperial Squads.
It was also normal for Shi Wuzhang to be chosen by the bald, blind Manh Tang; their appearances were equally frightening. Siken Maldo had mentioned before that Shi Wuzhang's willpower had attracted the interest of others, who was probably Manh Tang.
But why was Bai Xue chosen by Tao Xiang? That loli had left a very deep impression on Lu Yin.
Oh well, it had nothing to do with him. Having left Earth, their fates could only be controlled by themselves.
There was one thing that was a bit of a pity. The Starry Sky Battle Academy was about to arrive in the Canglan Territory. Zhang Dingtian and the others would have to re-cultivate after their body tempering and obviously wouldn't make it in time. What a shame.